The Emotional Layers of the Georgia vs. Florida Rivalry for Gunner Stockton
Gunner Stockton, the Georgia quarterback, faces the Gators with deeply personal stakes tied to his family's history.
The “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” unfolds in Jacksonville this week, pitting the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs against the Florida Gators at EverBank Stadium. This year’s encounter carries a weight of significance for Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton.
On October 30, 2010, Stockton’s grandfather, Lawrence Stockton, suffered a fatal heart attack at 63 outside the stadium following Georgia’s close 34-31 overtime defeat against Florida. “He said something about Todd Grantham and collapsed,” shared Suzanne Frederickson, Lawrence’s widow, in an ESPN article.
Gunner, who was only six at the time, recalls the incident’s profound impact. “He had a heart attack there at the stadium. Every time we go to Florida, I really want to beat them bad in Jacksonville,” he reflected.
Lawrence was a proud UGA School of Pharmacy graduate who cherished spending time with his grandson in the north Georgia mountains, enjoying hunting and fishing. “He lived on the lake, and he always treated us so good and spoiled the grandkids,” Gunner reminisced. “He was just a great granddad.”
Now, for the first time as a starting quarterback, Stockton has the chance to defeat Florida in Jacksonville.
In his last performance, Stockton was honored as SEC Offensive Player of the Week after guiding his team to a thrilling 43-35 comeback against Ole Miss, compiling 289 passing yards and four touchdown passes. According to CBS Sports Research, he remarkably completed 12 of his 12 attempts for 135 yards and three touchdowns in the second half alone.
This rivalry matchup is particularly poignant as it might be Gunner’s only opportunity to face Florida in Jacksonville. Due to renovations at EverBank Stadium, the next two matchups will be held in Atlanta and Tampa, returning to Jacksonville in 2028. Since 1933, this fierce contest has seen only two exceptions—1994 and 1995—when it was not hosted in Jacksonville.
Historically, Georgia has dominated recent encounters, winning four consecutive games against Florida, each by no less than 14 points. However, back in 2002, an unranked Florida team remarkably toppled a top-five Georgia squad.
